Monthly Archives: January 2010

The Aura

After all the year-end parties and celebrations are over, it is time to detox and rejuvenate. Aura at The Park, all across India warms up for the new accomplishments in the New Year with relaxing spa treatments and offers three special rejuvenation packages.
Feel Ginger – Ginger, a prescribed natural herb in all the ancient eastern sciences is known for its blood stimulation and warming effect.  Freshly grated ginger along with the purifying blend of Vetivert and Frankincense essential oils and honey when gently rubbed into your skin would leave you enlivened for days after.
Duration: 45 mins
Price: Rs. 1,750 plus taxes
Blissful Lotus – Experience a blissful haven as our therapists gently exfoliate your skin with mashed lotus stem.  Coupled with special facial sculpting techniques using kumkumadi thailam (saffron oil) penetrates into the deepest layer reducing fine lines whilst restoring your radiance; followed by a reviving pack using dried lotus leaves along with extracts of pineapple and papaya.
Duration: 60 mins
Price: Rs. 1,750 plus taxes
Warm Up – Feel walking out with lighter steps! The skin kneading and rolfing techniques along with sculpting and teprediation would aid in releasing stored lactic acid from your overworked muscles while inducing flexibility.
Duration: 90 mins
Price: Rs. 3,500 plus taxes

Fashion Online

The concept of fashion gained importance or was propagated with personalization of what one wears that is where the haute couture began following the trickledown theory ruling fashion. At least this is what the fashion school taught us. Fashion is the order of the royalty so the kings and princess had their personal designers, there were innumerable fitting sessions before one ensemble was designed. In short the store would make a door step service, how can you imagine the emperors shopping in malls. Thus fashion here is at your doorstep and if by any chance you are reading this piece of entry your door bell is already ringing, as I write for an online blog and very truly today it is our only window to the world where we spend most of our life glued to. There are no letters only emails, where you don’t call your friends but write a scrap to them on Twitter or post something on their Facebook wall. I still remember the days when I use to fumble to remember email ids and would need a pen and paper each time I would have to mail something. Now I myself proudly boast of all the short forms and lingos of web world. 

When I first heard of the online shopping concept my absorption power was limited to sites like e-bay, rediff shopping, home shop18 etc, that I visit only when I have to gift some distant relatives on their birthdays. The first time I wished there was a 24 hr shopping mall, was when I had to attend my cousins marriage after a long tied up month at office leaving me time only after 12 in the midnight to go picking my lehanga outfit. Of course there is no place open at these wee hours and I was left with the option of asking a good samaritan friend to fetch me a dress, with all my obligations it was only marginally near to the specification I had provided her. I guess Santa overheard my wishes and this December I heard the buzz on my window of 99labels.com soon followed by Fashionandyou.com both of them offer online shopping sprees with designer labels, brands and all the luxury of fashion and twenty four hour services at marked down prices. 

Now ‘does it excite you?’ I was asked the same question by Rahul Narvekar, co-founder forFashion and you, when their promotions kept hitting me on the face each time I logged onto my FB and finally I decided to do a little r&d before completely entrusting a virtual shopping model. I went straight to him with my list of queries and went on throwing questions at him. To which he explained, Fashion and you is a strictly members only site and the membership is only through invitation from the owners. It stores international labels like Moschino, DKNY, Hugo Boss, Escada, etc and also over hundred Indian designers. The exclusivity of the site is catering to a consumer who is undoubtedly internet savvy and is well travelled with a fair idea of the international standard sizes. Rahul also told me that they believe in proving themselves first rather than bragging promises, which is exactly the reason why they are allowing only selected member an access to their virtual shop. The second round of the market expansion would allow the members of Fashion and You to refer to their friends. Rahul’s sheer marketing policy instigates the trust factor so let me see what do I need to buy on priority basis, I was thinking for a bottle of perfume, and what do you say, shall I place my order?  

Don’t think this is a hurried decision, I have options just at the click of a button, and the all powerful mouse is definitely here. So next I spoke to Ishita Swarup, from 99 labels and asked the same question, who had come up live only this December 3rd and were offering an exhaustive collection on sale by Indian designers. The entire concept of 99labels is to offer an all season sale and the designers put classic pieces from their few seasons’ old stock, scrutinized and picked by the merchandising team. The team works on a three day delivery system and if I don’t like the piece I would just have to inform them within three days of delivery and they take it issuing me a credit of the same amount. And if the piece is defective I get my money back in the same period. There are lot of new products and brands soon to be featured on 99 labels like Guess, Esprit, skincare products, footwear, and accessories for valentines… uuh that Ishita has asked me to keep a look out for. I hope the next wedding I attend I would not land up wearing a sari as per my friend’s fashion preferences. 

Now that my window is sizzling with fashion and luxury but still the insatiable human wants more as my desires gained new preferences when I recently watched this video on the future of shopping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDi0FNcaock Enjoy the video as I sign out today’s entry with this.

Posted by : Matsya at 12:32 AM

Wildfire-a Brazilian Churrascaria

Wildfire at Crowne Plaza Today, Gurgaon, offers the city its only authentic Brazilian cuisines with an ambience like the Brazilian Churrascaria and signature servings. Set in the expat and corporate hub, the location has worked to their advantage. The décor with its flame throwers, glass pillars filled with chilli flakes and open grills evoke a sense of quaint space.

Churrascaria is a typical Brazilian barbecue restaurant, where meats are served in sword-like skewers. The waiters keep bringing the skewers with different meats and cuts to each table until the client is "fed up". The restaurant has about 70 covers and the expats seek out for tenderloin, pork loin and duck breasts while the Indian patrons come here for celebrations. All meat here is imported, pork from Germany, duck comes from France, lamb is from New Zealand, Sri Lankan sausages, and Brazilian beef whereas the sea food arrives from Kochi. Brazilian chef Juarez Gonsalves and his men tantalize the taste buds with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Wildfire also has a set menu concept where the soups and salads change every day so today’s menu becomes outdated tomorrow. And also on the platter is an exotic desert section with Sandeman Rich Ruby, Tio Pepe Harvey Bristol Cream much more to tease the tastes of manna dew.

Reaching The Stars

Kimaya organized a fashion show for the cancer cured children to experience a few glamorous moments of their lifetime. The event was a fundraiser for Cancer Patients Aid Association, where Kimaya dolled up these brave kids and Bina Aziz of Tradition Art along with Art Invest organized an art auction to further raise funds for the cause.
 
The highlight of the evening was a stunning walk by children who have survived cancer, on the ramp showcasing a glamorous collection by KIMAYA designers namely Anamika Khanna, Rahul and Rohit Gandhi, Shantanu and Nikhil , Gayatri Khanna, Geisha Designs , Elisha Wadhwani , Charu Parashar , Sonu Gohil , AAN , Chirag Dattani , Ashish and Viral Parikh , Sejal Kanoi and  Yuvraaj Malhotra. “The show is a tribute to these little stars who, after going through the emotional and physical pain of cancer, have come out survivors,” says Pradeep Hirani of Kimaya.
 
Leading Luminaries from the field of corporate ,sports,  fashion , media and films namely Celina Jaitley, Chunkey Pandey,  Dipali Goenka , Jagjit Singh , Madhur Bhandarkar , Mahima Choudhary  , Neetu Chandra , US Counsul General , Paul Folmsbee , Piyush Pandey , S Shridhar, Shekhar Suman, Shobha De, Talat Aziz, Alka Suman , Adhyayan Suman , Preeti Jhangiani, Sonal Chauhan, Sonu Gohil, Zarine Khan and Zayed Khan with wife Malika Khan graced the occasion.But these stars were not alone, each of them walked down the ramp with children who have battled and overcome cancer. 
 
With Manasi Scott compering the evening, Pooja Bedi taking charge of the auction and guests including Zeba and Rajesh Kohli, Chunky Pandey, Arzan and Khushnuma Khambatta, Brinda Miller and Nana and Munira Chudasama in attendance, this was a dazzling evening indeed! Our verdict — mission successful

Let

The Let’s Design Season 2 culminated after enormous anxiety, precipitation and excitement to announce the winning talents in Mumbai. The young talents chosen for this year are Priyanka Grover as the Best Designer, Mayank Soni as the Best Non-practicing Designer and Geetika Singh as the face for CCI. With Priyanka Grover also bragging the Best White Brunch outfit, the best Bohemian outfit was designed by Christina M Hanghal and the best Bar to beach outfit created by Ashita Kamlesh Jhaveri.
 
A unique and first of its kind reality show screened fifteen upcoming designers from across the country on basis of their sketches design concepts on the theme ‘Get Cool with Cotton in Retro Look’. And then they were flown to the reality house for the final tasks and elimination. The jury included leading luminaries of Indian fashion like Anita Dongre, Neeta Lulla, Krishna Mehta, Swapnil Shinde, Archana Kochhar, Tanya Chaitanya and Shiana NC, renowned photographer Subi Samuel, Agnieszka Fijol, Senior Manager (South Asia) for CCI and Julie Harris from WGSN.
 
Noted lensman and jury member Subi Samuel said that he was “amazed to see the level of fashion intelligence used by the contestants that also allowed scope for immense experimentation using cotton.” Julie Harris from WGSN said, "It is fantastic to see the passion and creativity of the contestants of Lets Design Season 2. They have all worked very hard and proved to be innovative, smart and committed, we have future potential trend setters in our midst which is hugely exciting for the Indian fashion industry"

 
The entire project is being promoted by the Cotton Council International in its “Cool with Cotton” campaign to generate awareness about the benefits of cotton and its uses in India. Agnieszka Fijol, Senior Manager (South Asia) for CCI, said, “Cotton has always held a special place in the hearts of the Indian people and I don’t doubt that with the support of such talented designers it will continue to be at the forefront of style and innovation. Success of events such as these is as much about celebrating the emergence of hidden talent is at about promoting cotton.” And to everyone’s delight the show will be soon aired on Zoom.

A Piece of Niladri Art

A cold January evening melts with the unveiling of Rave Niladri Art Calendar 2010 ‘Arangham’. Bringing forth the second edition of this alluring premiere collectable art the calendar reveals exquisite paintings of celebrated and maverick artist Niladri Paul. Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shovana Narayan and Rakesh Bhatnagar of Rave India uncovered the veil over this exquisite memoir of art.
 
The vibrant and unique artworks capture the essence and rhythm of our rich cultural heritage of performing arts. Niladri Paul draws his veins of inspiration from ancient Indian culture and his paintings are an enduring fascination with the all encompassing melody of music and the rhythm of dance. His unique rendering of vibrant, pulsating images, enchanting pigments, luminescent forms and bold brushstrokes make all his paintings rise above mere craftsmanship to a positive rhythmic force with a deeply meditative aura.
 
Unconstrained palette of Niladri Paul has found him patrons in all five continents of the world.  And in a career span of 20 years, he has managed to create and establish an individualistic signature style.
 
The occasion of launch brought together an array of art connoisseurs from various spheres like Meera Muzaffar Ali, Rahul and Gunjan, Alka Raghuvanshi, Sanjay Sethi and Poonam Sethi and Punam Kalra in a melodious evening set on note with Rajesh Prasanna on flute and Parvez Hussain on tabla.
 
This limited edition Art Calendar is the brainchild of Mr. Rakesh Bhatnagar and is produced by his company Rave India.

Suneet Varma Graces The LFW Grande Finale

The Lakmé India Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2010 has called upon Suneet Varma with his vivacious ode to dressing up the night. The theme for his collection is ‘Night Fever’ inspired by the woman that works abandoned adventure with an easy sophistication. LFW had already announced to be a showcase platform for the current season rather than being a season ahead as it used to be. 
 
This season Suneet Varma brings a palette of anticipation and excitement of dressing up for the night bringing alive a blaze of confident color and graphic expression with the electric energy of the night spirit. “Colour has so many moods – you have muted colour, dramatic colour and then you have the confident colour, a statement of individuality, passion and subtle panache that women will indulge in when wearing the Lakmé Grand Finale Look this summer. I can sense women re-discovering the excitement of getting dressed up for the night, be it a night out on the town or a simple coffee with friends,” comments Suneet. 
 
On the association, N. Rajaram, Vice President, Lakmé says “Suneet is one of the most sought after designers and a name to reckon with in the fashion industry. He represents the perfect blend of Summer Resort and a flair for business of fashion, clearly being the best choice for the Lakmé Grand finale.”